Welcome to Sierra Madre
Nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley, with the sprawling wilderness of the Angeles National Forest to its north, the enchanting city of Sierra Madre has the gives the impression of being completely ensconced within nature. Sierra Madre is popularly known as ‘the Village of the Foothills.’
Sierra Madre is also often referred to as ‘Wisteria City,’ in honor of an incredibly large sample of the purple wisteria vine that can be found here. The world record-holding wisteria vine was planted in the 1890s and today stretches over an acre in length, with a weight of 250 tons. This unique attraction is the subject of a popular annual festival.
The city is also known for its annual Independence Day festival, with a ‘Star-Spangled Weekend’ featuring three days of fun and festivities.
Sierra Madre has a quaint downtown area, with some wonderful local businesses and historic buildings where E. Waldo Ward and Sons has been selling artisanal jams and marmalades in Sierra Madre since 1891. Dining options include the excellent Japanese-American fare of the aptly-named Sierra Fusion, as well as high-quality food and drinks at the Wistaria Grill, and small inviting eateries such as Mary’s Market and Monsieur Crepe.
A CITY SURROUNDED BY NATURE
The surrounding natural scenery contains a plethora of trails and wildlife. Bailey Canyon Wilderness Park offers numerous trails and a Native Botanical Area, along with areas for picnics and barbeques. The 80-acre Mater Dolorosa Monastery and Retreat Center is a magnificent place to get away from it all. With the southern edge of the enormous Angeles National Forest bordering Sierra Madre to the north, residents have an incredible variety of wilderness and greenspace right at their fingertips.
Sierra Madre’s homes typically include incredible views, from sweeping vistas over Bailey Canyon to stunning panoramas of the ocean and Santa Catalina Island. Sierra Madre is beloved by its residents for the wonderful sense of seclusion and large homes with resort-style pools and grounds that make it the perfect place to relax and unwind.
